Greymouth Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1948. Defence “Policy”

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1948, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1948. Defence “Policy”

PROM the point of view .bf clarity and r decision it would be difficult to imagine a less satisfactory docinn ent than the statement issued .by the Minister, Mr Jones, outlining New Zealand’s defence policy lor the next five years. The Government had long delayed such a public declaration, a fact which caused responsible national organisations recently to renew their pressure for decisive action. In these circumstances the Government no doubt felt that it must Make at least some show of its awareness of the deterioration oi international relations and the result has been a vague and evasive statement which reveals a weak and timid approach to defence questions. The Minister has said that “it cannot be expected that in any future emergency we shall enjoy a long period of immunity from attack.’'’ ' And yet many of the defence decisions that matter are to be “notified later.” The, Minister, in one breath, expresses his realisation of the urgency of the position and in the next stales that action will be taken at some future dale. It seems that the Government is determined not to offend anybody. It still panders to the sensitivity of certain sections of the community, even to the extent of hazarding the future of this young country. If the Government’s statement is closely examined, it will be found that little has been said in reality about how its aims are to be effected. “A territorial force will be established and the terms of service and the method of recruitment will be announced later when the regular personnel have been trained.” The statement does not say whether service is to be compulsory 01 . nO f— sn rely the Government already knows its mind on this matter —or of what size the territorial force is to be. In addition, it is difficult to believe that with so many men in the community experienced in modern warfare it is necessary to postpone action until “regular personnel have, been trained.” The only reasonable conclusion is that the Government wants to postpone decisive action on the “method of recruitment,” and, of course, if the. Government wants to postpone anything it can alwavs find a way of doing it.

In' respect to the naval' ami air forces, the Government’s statement is a little less unsatisfactory. The present strength oi. the Navy, approximately 1580, is Io be expanded'to 1850 tliis year,, but the full peace-time establishment is not to be reached until 1950. New Zealand’s part in a naval war with its own vessels could scarcely be expected to lie substantial, but it could at least have ready a large number of men', wed trained, Io lake lheir place in a Commonwealth force. The programme in this respect is palpably inadequate. Afore realism lias been shown in respect to the Air Force. Here, ;it le.ist. the Minister is definite that a terriiorial force is to be organised on a volunteer basis. It is to be doubted, however, whether the rate of expansion of the regular force is adequate in relation Io needs. The present establishment is 2500 and it is to take lour years to reach the target figure of 4000. Another point which will cause concern is the decision that for an indefinite period training operations are to be carried out in obsolete planes. The only new departure is that, relating to the organisation of a Defence Science Advisory Committee and a Defence Scientific Corps. However, “the precise terms and conditions of employment” are to he “notified later.” This is typical of the whole of the Government’s statement. Indeed, it is apparent that even after a couple of years of repeated requests —and repeated promises on its part —the. Government has evolved no more, than the barest outline of a defence policy.